How salt affects the body

Salt is often called the "white death", and not without reason, because its excessive consumption can lead to various diseases. However, in moderate quantities, it is an integral part of the diet and an important element for the normal functioning of the body. Despite the negative associations, most people still eat salty foods on a daily basis, and there is an explanation for this.

Since ancient times, salt has been used to preserve food, since it was not possible to store it at low temperatures. Gradually, people began to get used to the salty taste, and it became part of their eating habits. For many years, salt has served as an important component that allows you to preserve food and make it more delicious.

However, modern research shows that excess salt in the body can be harmful. With normal metabolism, a healthy body can excrete up to 25 g of salt per day with urine and sweat. If salt consumption exceeds this norm, the remains can accumulate in the body, which leads to various diseases, such as edema, hypertension and other disorders.

At the same time, there are a number of products that can help balance salt intake. For example, potassium salt, contained in honey, cucumbers, carrots and bananas, helps remove excess fluid and relieve swelling. It is important to remember that the body's cells need not only salt, but also other trace elements, such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Their deficiency can lead to various diseases, such as osteoporosis, metabolic disorders and others.

Particular attention should be paid to a salt-free diet. There is an opinion that when sweating, the body loses salt, and it must be replenished with salty foods. This is a misconception. Even when giving up salt, people get it from foods such as vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products. For example, 100 g of beets contain about 260 mg of salt, and potatoes - 30 mg. Therefore, a salt-free diet does not mean completely eliminating salt, but only refusing to add it to food.

It is also important to distinguish between regular table salt and its more natural forms, such as rock salt and sea salt. These salts contain essential microelements such as magnesium and calcium, which have a beneficial effect on the body. While refined table salt consists only of sodium chloride, which makes it less healthy. Countries such as Spain and Japan use sea salt, and this is one of the factors why cardiovascular diseases and cancer are less common there.

It is important to remember that salt consumption should be balanced. For a healthy person, the optimal norm is 4-6 g per day, and for people with hypertension - no more than 1 g. Lack of salt can lead to cramps, fatigue and other health problems, so it is important to maintain a balance in nutrition.

Thus, salt, like any other element in our diet, should be consumed with caution. Too much salt is just as bad as too little, so getting the right amount is key to staying healthy.